Fastener-applying implement



March 30, 1948.

A.l H. MAYNARD FASTENER-APPLYING IMPLEMENT Filed Feb. 26, 1946 000000,"/l/l/I/i In Uxen Por: rlfl UFE/Va, I? 0rd March 30,1948. A. H. MAYNARD2,438,713 l FASTENER-APPLYING IMPLEMENT Filed Feb. 26, 1946 2Sheets-Sheet 2 A *Y E ffff 6% [n den Por:

rllz ard u Patented Mar. 30, 1948 FAS TENER -APPLYI'NG IMPLEMENT ArthurH. Maynard, Warwick, R. I., assignor to Boston Wire Stitcher Company,Warwick, R. I., a corporation of Maine Application February 26, 1946,Serial No. 650,190

14 Claims. (Cl. 1-3) rihis invention relates to improvements iniastener-applying implements for attaching papers and other sheets,fastening labels and tags to articles of commerce and for use generallyfor stapling and stitching together various objects.

One object of the invention is to provide an implement of the typeindicated which is more convenient to load with a supply of fastenersand easier to operate for the purposes specified.

Another object is to provide an implement having a, top-loading magazinefor the fasteners with an operating lever forming a closure for themagazine and improved means for manually opening and closing themagazine. v

Another object is to provide an implement of the type indicated havingmeans to prevent the driving of a fastener or staple accidentally tocause injury to the hands when the operating lever is carried down ontothe magazine to close the top of the latter.

Another object s to provide an implement of the type indicated havingfastener-applying means in the form of a staple-driver which may bereleased from the operating leverwhen the latter is withdrawn from themagazine for supplying staples thereto.

Another object is to provide an implement of the type indicated havingmanually-operable means for releasing the lever from the magazinearm toopen the magazine for loading it with a supply of fasteners or staplesand concurrently releasing the staple-driver from the lever.

Another object is to provide an implement of the type indicated with thestaple-driver releasable from the operating lever to adapt it to remainin the throat at the end of the magazine to prevent staples fromentering said throat and being ejected therefrom when the operatinglever is closed down onto the magazine after loading the latter.

Another object is to provide an implement of the type indicated whichmay be manufactured at economical cost while rendering it more durablefor long periods of use.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the followingspecification which describe-s a preferred form of construction of thedevice, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a general view in perspective of the present improvedfastener-applying implement;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a similar longitudinal sectional view of the implement showingthe combined operating lever and cover raised above the magazinearm; v

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the fore part of themagazine-arm and operating lever on line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a part-sectional front View of the device with the parts shownin the same position as inFig.2;

Fig. 6 is a, transverse sectional View of the operating lever on linel-iy of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional View showing the magazine-armdepressed with Vthe operating lever or cover turned back andillustrating the method of depressing the staple-pusher to retain it inretracted position for loading the magazine with staples;

Fig. 8 is a front view of the magazine-arm and staple-driver, shown inthe same position as in Fig. 7, with the front plate on the driverpartly broken away;

Fig. 9 is a, composite perspective view of the slidable latch and bowedspring which cooperates therewith; and

Fig. 10 is a composite perspective view of the parts of thestaple-driver.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the present improvedfastener-applying implement is similar in certain respects to that shownand described in my prior application for United States A LettersPatent, Serial No. 610,961, led August 1'7, 1945, but embodying severalimprovements therein as will be later set forth. In general, theimproved device comprises a relatively flat base 2, a, hollowmagazine-arm 3 for containing a supply of fasteners such as wire staplesof inverted U-shape and an operating lever li which also constitutesacover for the magazine rin the arm.

The base 2 may be constructed of sheet-metal and provided with clinchingmeans 5 at its forward end in the form of a protuberance struck up fromthe metal and indented with grooves 6 for receivingv the legs of thestaple to bend them against the under side o-f the work. At the rearwardend of the base 2 isa standard comprising a pair of parallel stanchionsl folded upwardly from the sides of the base to provide a mounting forthe pivoted magazine-arm 3. The metal plate or base 2 may be mounted inan ornamental support or sub-base constructed o-f plastic or the like,as disclosed in the pending application referred to above, but notherein shown; or the implement may be used without such a supportfor'its base.

The magazine-arm li may be constructed of sheet-metal in channel-shapewith a bottom 8, and upstanding side walls 9, the rearward end of,provideV 'd l zpresfedpdQWIL-liritbe, bevel-.edged opening 26. iny thebottomiof the 'arrn 3'in the manner shown the arm being positionedbetween the stanohions 'I and pivoted on a transverse pin I@ extendingthrough ears at the ends thereof.

The operating lever 4 which forms a cover for the magazine in the arm 3may also be constructed from sheet-metal in inverted channel- I shapewith a top II and sides I 2 folded downwardly therefrom.. The sides I2of the lever 4 are adapted to "straddle the sides of the arm 3 withtheir rearward ends pivoted on the pin IllV which hingedly connects thearm to the stanchions 'I' on the base 2.

y The forward end of the arm 3 is providedewith inwardly-foldedportionsI3 Which'cooperate; with a shear-plate I'4 spaced rea'rwardlytherefromto form a throat I5 through which the staples are driven into the work.Th stapless are fed forwardly in the magazine-arm and across theshear-plate I4 into the throat I5 by means of a staple-pusher/IG. The,staples s may be assembled in a stick' or reiill and inserted in themagaz ine of, thearm 3 with theirlegs resting on the a Abottorngthereof-fExjtending `rearwardly from the shear-plate I4 betweenA thesides 9 of the karm 3 is a rod` II fastenedat itsjwopposite end in janangle-*shaped supportjl which is held in place by the transversepivot-pin Il). A helical spring .2qsurroundsl the .rod I 'I between thepusher It and the support-Ifor'slidingrthe pusher forwardly to advancethe Y'staples in the magazine.

' "I'he staple-pus'ler` I G is of inverted U-shape with iparallelxfsides 2"I abut the sidesV 9 of the arm 3 andrest on its'bottom8. lAt the rearward y end of the sides; 2-I` o'f 'the inislfiery I6their bottom edges areV recessed lor -cutV away at '2 3`atV arelative lylong angle with'a sharper bevel at the end to etentlprojections 25 fwhich may be in Fig' -7- to. retain. the Pusher i' jesi retractedposition f 1 The' operating lever 4 is heldin connection with themagazinefarm 3, while being movable VVwithin prescribed vlimitsrelatively t l 1e"re zto,4 bymeans of a manually-slidable latch- SwhichY engages with Y Y thestapledriizerti.4 v"Tl'ie Ylatcli 30, shownin perspective Aviewin Fig. 9, Yin Ythe; formv of a relatively narrowAflat bar'having Ian upturned arcuate portion at its rearward endV whichis knurled or Aiiuted on its surfaceto .p'ovide av finger-grip 3 I.

--Atits forward end thelatcli has a projection Voffsetbelow itsupper'facefa'nd narrowed at the sidesV to form'a vlug or'prongSZ adaptedto slide through a rectangular-op'ening234- adjacent the top ofthestaple-driver'35; see Fig. 2.'

7 shown in *Figlf 10,` the Vstaple-driver-I55Voornprisesahardenedrnetalblade formed with offset shouldered a'nges orfflns 36 at its sides whichare slidable' in grooves at the sides ofthe throat vI5 in the arinSAdjacentitsf lower edgefthe thickerV portion 'off the driver-blade 35is vformed with iateraiiyexteding pfortiens which provide ideert-Shoulders @adapted rfb-engag with a pair of lugs 39; seejFig.'v8,-Y bent inwardly from the sideshof thej arm 3: near'its toptolimit'the upward movement of the driver and vprevent its Yremoval fromthe magazine-ann. OverlyirigA` the forward face fof the driver-35 risafiat'sheetmetal plate 40 havinglug's or` ears 4 I folded rearwardly atright-'angles "theretoto vadapt them to ,project'acrossV the shouldersatAV the 'sides' of the thicker portion Vof Vthe "driver 535' withtheirY ends atraer the @agarrarse Therm 4|.adaptedtoadaslstopszeeeaeeable With-,the top ofthe lugs 39 asshowninig.8"toprevent the 4 driver from dropping out through the throatI5 in the arm 3. The staple-driver 35 may be assembled in the throat I5by springing the upper portion of the plate 4U outwardly to adapt theears 5 4I to be passed by the lugs 39 on the upper sides of the arm 3;and the same procedure may be adopted v f or lrernoving l the driverfrom the imple-Y ment should repair or replacement thereof be reequired. The upper portion of the plate 40 is out l0 r away at 42 toregister with the opening 34 in the staple-driver 35 and adjacent itslowe1` edge it is perforatedwith a circular opening 43 for receiving a4rivetY 45 inserted through a ycorresponding VholeglV at the. bpttom ofthe driver-blade 35 and 151 headed over tojgseoure the two parts inconnectin." 'By'thi's'form of construction the stapledriver`35islpro'vided with grooves at its sides for straddling theinwardly-folded portions I3 at the front of the arm 3 which formparallel ways VforsliclablyY mounting the driver.

, VH.-.QbSel`V ed. by. l-'Qfel'ene 50; Figi 2 .0f 'the drawingsgtheforward lug or prong- 32- of the een si engages; #muah thel @entre invrthe v driverebladef-SE with a slghliolearance the VlatchbeingYslidablefbeneath `tl'ie` top wall'l l Vof the VAoperating leverV'4'Y with fitsY rearward vdinger-piece -SI vprojecting upwardlythroughanfelongated slot '49 tlrierein.-l -Atjthere`arWard.side -of--the' s lot 49 a lug or"projeet'ion'f5i)4 is bent downwardly and'Vrecessedalngits sides topro'videa lnarrower pro'jeetion5l",see-Fi'gr./3,Ywhich engages through anV opening=54 ina bow-shaped@spring 55.- The relatively latf forward portion" ofi-thespring -55underlies the latch @fand-'forms ab'e'aring there- 1 pairsfoilugs 56pierced :frrnrthesides |21v ofthe lever? 4 Yand*bent iifiwardly`-therefrom asv-shown supported beneath the top wall `I' IV Aof the. levertwith a space therebetweenlinlwhich the -latch,

' Y atitsforward endllt'oMprventllateralldisplaoeits retractedv.position .ias ;represented. iin `Fig.Y 3.V

Rearwardlylof A.the notch-.5lithe .metal n of the spring55`issheaifedlto provide a .longitudinallyexinendingY 'spring'rtorigue,` seeAlFig'. 9, having 55 A its vforward- -end orirnpedr-curled 'overlv toform an upstanding ldetentprotuberancelIwhich is 'adapted to engage im.aft-ransversezs-1or .or repenblade 3 5 as shownin Fig 2. VWhenthellatchS is withdrawn-r'from engagementwiththestaple driver if 35 ftherounded-guppen surface of the 'detent-protuberance'fIbwill rideacross-theedge retratar if base 2 is limited through the means of a pairof cylindrical projections or teats 65 projecting inwardly from thesides of the stanchions 'I, see Fig, 4, through 'enlarged circularopenings 66 in the side walls 9 of the arm. The projections or teats 65may be formed by indenting the metal at 61 'en the outer sides of thestanchions to force the projections 65 outwardly on the inner facesthereof. As will be noted by reference to Fig. 2, the side walls 9 ofthe arm 3 are out away at the top rearwardly thereof to provide aclearance for the curved legs 63 of the spring 55 whereby to providethat the lever 4 and arm 3 may be held in the relative positions shownin Fig. 2 when the driver-blade -35 is at the upper limit of its throwand the magazine-arm is raised above the base 2. The lever 4 is providedat its forward end with a hand-rest which may be constructed ofsheet-metal welded or otherwise fastened thereto and formed with anoverhanging marginal rounded rim overlying the sides and front of thelever.

The complete implement is operated in the manner as next explained. Tofasten together sheets of paper or the like the work is laid across thetop of the base 2 above the clinching means 5 and pressure applied tothe hand-rest 'I0 at the forward end of the lever `4. Such pressure willcause the lever 4 and the connected arm 3 to swing downwardly as theypivot on the pin lil until the forward end of the arm bears against theWork resting on the base 2; the spring 55 yielding under this actionwith its legs 63 sliding rearwardly along the upper edges of thestanchions 1. As the forward end of the arm `3 contacts with the workthe downward movement of the lever -4 is continued to slide the driver35 down in the throat I5 to drive a staple s through the work and causeits legs to be clinched on the underside thereof in the grooves 6 of theclinching means I5. Pressure on the lever 4 may then be released,whereupon the spring 55 will act to raise the lever 4 to withdraw thestaple-driver 35 upwardly through the throat I5 until itsdetent-shoulders 38 engage with the lugs 39 which project inwardly fromthe sides of the arm 3. Further upward movement of the staple-driver 35in the throat I5 will thus be checked and the lever 4 will continue itsupward motion to raise the arm 3 above the base 2 into the positionillustrated in Fig. 2. rlhe upward rise of the arm 3 and lever `4 islimited by the engagement of the cylindrical projections or teats 65 onthe stanchions I with the edges of the circular openings 66 in the sidesY of the `arm 3.

As long as a supply of staples remains in the magazine of the arm 3 theimplement may be operated continuously to apply the staples to the workin the manner explained above; or if it is desired to tack labels orother articles to various objects the base 2 may be swung back out ofcooperative relation with the arm 3 by causing the projections 65 tospring across the edges of the :opening 66. After thev supply of stapless in the magazine of the arm 3 has been exhausted by driving the lastone in the series the machine is loaded with a fresh supply in themanner as next explained.

By pressing against the finger-grip 3| of the latch 30 the latch may beretracted rearwardly on the lever 4 to release its lug or prong 32 fromthe opening 34 in the staple-driver 35; the springtongue 60 yielding torelease the detent-protuberance 6I from the slot 62 in the latch topermit alledrie its retraction. As the lever 4 thus is disconnected fromthe staple-driver 35 the arm 33 will be re-v leased to permit it to dropdown onto the base 2`- and the driver 35 will slide down throughV thethroat I5 in the arm. The staple-pusher I6 may' then be retracted bysliding it rearwardly in the' arm 3 to compress the spring 2D. As thestaple-Y pusher I6 is withdrawn the finger of the handf may be presseddown against its top to cause its lugs 4or detent-projections 25 toengage in the opening 26 in the bottom of the arm 3 to retain it in itsrearward position. A stick or refill of' staples s may be placed in themagazine of thearm 3 straddling the rod I1 and the staple-pusherA I6thereafter released. The projections 25 on the pusher I6 will ride upacross the beveled edge.- of the slot 26 to permit the pusher to be slidforward under the tension of the spring 2l) to causeit to feed the wholeseries of staples s forwardly and advance the foremost one intoengagementy with the rearward face of the staple-driver 35.. After themagazine of the implement has been supplied with staples in the mannerexplained above, it is prepared for operation by swinging the lever 4downwardly and latching it to the staple-driver 35. This may beaccomplished as the arm 3 rests against the base 2 in the positionillustrated in Fig. 3, the lever 4 .being pressed. downwardly to causethe spring 55 to yield untilv the lug 32 is in alinement with theopening 34- in the staple-driver 35. Then, by .sliding the latch 30forwardly its prong 32 will engage the opening 34 in the driver 35,whereafter the: spring 55 will act to return the lever 4 intol itsuppermost position as shown in Fig. 2. The upward movement of the lever4 will cause the: staple-driver 35 to be slid upwardly in the throat'.I5 at the front of the arm 3 and when its lowerl edge is clear of thetop of the shear-plate I4 the pusher I6 will be slid forwardly under thetension. of the spring 2li to feed the foremost staple s intothe throatI5. The implement may then be operated in the manner as rst explained tocontinu-- l ously apply staples to the work.

It is to be particularly noted that the present improved construction ofthe latching means forl connecting the operating lever with thestapledriver and thereby with the arm 3 insures against` prematuredriving of a staple, that is to say, since the staple-driver 35 remainsdown in the throat I5 of the arm 3 when the lever 4 is disconnectedtherefrom it will prevent the feeding of a staple: into position beneaththe driver. Consequently. the downward movement of the lever 4 for con--necting it with the arm 3 cannot operate to drive a staple which wouldbe wasted or, which is more important, there is no danger that theconnection. of the lever with the arm will cause a staple toJ be driveninto the ngers if the latter are held. under the arm 3 while pressingthe lever 4 downwardly to connect it therewith. The presentv improvementtherefore provides against premature driving of a staple as a safetyfactor to avoidA injury to the hands and flurther makes for greater easeand convenience in loading the magazine: and preparing the implement foroperation.

While the present improved device is herein. shown as embodied in apreferred form of construction, it is to be understood that variousmodifications may be made in the structure and. arrangement of the partsof the implement with-- out departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. In a device of the type indicated, an open-- loading'magazinefor-containing a# uncover the mag'azine'for 'loading itl'wi'thfffas'- fzine forloading itwithfasteners.V

:top magazinefior eo'x'itaining a ,-jsiipply'fdas- 4tenersi:said"magazine vfformedv Awith a throat of'the magazine',andzinanuailyeop'erable 'meansr for-releasably connectingsa'd lever' tosaidtdriver, said lmanuall'y-operable means ibeing fr'eleasable to adaptthe lever to bei lifted above'the magazine to open' the latter? for*loading it With fasteners.

2. In a devicev off-the typ'elin'dicated', anff'open sidedmagazinefforcontaining -a-'supplyi of-"fasteners, said'magazineformedvVv with. af'tliroat driver slidaloleV in the throat.in'th/e magazine iand throat,v means for limiting Vthe'fextent l ofsliding movement of the driver intl'rethroat' t'lrevent :its releasefrom the magazine, va lever forfreciproeating theV driver,mannallyroperable'rmeans for connecting the lever totheudriver; said?means Ebeing Ymarni'allyv releasablel to adapt 'theflever to Z'oe movedindependently' o'flthe driver toopen' the :magazine Vfor loading" itwithifasterersand'reg silient means formaintainifng sai'd-'levef"raised:above themag'azinewith the driveilat 'the upper;

-end of its stroke.

3. In adevice ofthe; type'ind-icated, artopf-loading magazine rforcontaining a fsupplylisfasteners, a lever constructed-as va over'forlthem gazine and movableV relatively'- theretol to idr-ivthefas'i' tenersthereiromfa-normally releasable'fastenerdriver reciprocable'inath'roatatltheenclof the magazine to drive the A:fastenerstheefromfmfeans for limiting the extent of movement-loi' the 'diilver inthe throat to; prevent; its" 'f release rom'ffthe magazine, iand'manuallyeoperable iriean's-'f 'oon- Y nesting the operating'flevertorecip eatef the VAdriver and disconnecting it therefrom 'to-'rmitraising the leverfsnffcientlytolopentheniagazine Yfor receivingaisiiiplyfof--fastenrsg Y 4 4. In afastener-applying--implernentfa-topof fasteners, 'a levercon'strlictedasa covei'for the magazine andmovable'lrelativelthereto; 2v2-'driver slidable in a throatjat-the endoffthefmagazine.: formdriving' the fastenersV therefrom; fdetentmeansforlimitingthe slidingmovement of the i driver in -either direction-infthe throat in'f the latching .the 'operating'jlever jto'thendriver`-` @and thereby connecting'saidleveri -roperativefrlationshipto the' magazine; saiy telling' imeans being releasalole`v to permit'Vrais'ing the (lever to teners. 5,

5.7In a device of"thefty'pef'r-ldicated,k ani'arm constructed as ahollow open-sldedjniajgazi-h for containing ai'supplyrfof'ifasteners,alever-lofQintively verted channelshapeipivtedt s^w ng r to themagazinelarm and/forming aovei-'fori closing the open side'Aof-Vsaidf--rnagazilegf aediiver reciproc'able in athroatfat'ftheeiitll othe arm,

" means to limit-the'eiitentfoifslitlingimovelnent ofthe driver in leachdirection in the-'throat',fand a :manually-olfieraloleQ-latfch"forconnectingrthe Vlever with the driver-ite ireibrocatelitin'the' throattoV drive thfastenersftheerom,vsaid'fl'atch being 'releasable todisconnect'thlever"fifom `the -driver to allow it to be movedtoiopentheiin-agat S Y t 6.- jI-ri;a deviceA of the ,type indicated, an arm 'of l*channel-shape .forming a hollow magazine g for Yycontaining,-a-Aslllpltr of staples, a' leverjof inverted channehshapepivoted to the magazinefarm to 5 adapt' it to rock'relativelytheretda-staple-driver Y 'reciprocabletin a' throat at the' .end Yof fthe. arm,Y

"above the' vloase and formed with 'an open-:sided magazineforrontaining a supply' of4 stables, a lever' pivoted' to rock withrespect'to'sai'd Varm 5 yand'the `lease andfconstructed as a" cover Yfor-closing theopen side ofthe magazine 'in the'arm; rastaple-driverslidable in a throat at fthe end of 2o' the arm, "means Vfor, limitingthe extent; ofV `slid ing 'movement 'of said "staple-driver in'` 'eitherdirection in the throat, means for releasablyeonf nectirig theY leverwith the driver to 'effect reciprofcation ofthe latter, 'saidconnectingmeansloe- 'ing manuallyfoperableto release the driver' from .i theleverto adapt thelatter to be nfo'ved tof open the sideo'f the magazine, `andasp'ring 'acting 'l'betvveen'thelever and thebase` for' maintaining i'said! lever raised abovethe arm with`the driver Y 'f at the'upper endofits stroke, Y ,y A-8.l2n a startling vimrfilementfthe combination of ahase, a hollow Vchanriel-shap'edl'magazinearm V-pivoted lat its'rearward 'end-'tothe Abase 'and' vDro- "vided at-lits'Y forward 'endvwith a throatthrough "-which- 'the'staples may be driven,'-means"to"advanc'e' the'staplesin the armfto feedtheforemost "ofn into thetliroat;va'driver reciprocalole'infthe 'throai'ltoldive the staples; a, leverconstituted asA a coverforclosing theff'topofthev magazine in 40"thefarm", means for pivoting-said lever Y'to'adapt 'i Y it' to rockwithj respect to the arm,v Vmeans f for freleasably connectingfsaidlever to the driver to f 'recibrocatethelatter, 'said' connectingmeansbeing-A Amzarl'lially` -operable to' *release the lever ffor openingthejmaga'zine, and*` afspringiacting 'between the lever and thejlcase tonormally main- Vrtainthe'lever in raisedirelation to the'arm and 1thearm-raisedaboveth'e base,

am an implementar 'the 'timel indicated, a'

A ymagazine, a-stapledriver 'slidablein arl-,moat at Y j--theforwardendofthe magazine andfformedwith 5 lever raised abovethe arm'andthfarm'elevatecl 5[from inedriveruk to adapt theilever to bei/raisedamavis ypivoted at its rearward end to the stanchions with its sidesstraddling the sides of the arm to form a closure therefor, adriver-blade slidable in the throat at the end of the magazine andformed with an opening adjacent its upper end, a latch slidable on thelever to engage it with the opening in the driver, detent-means formaintaining the latch in engagement with the driver, and a springtensioned between the lever and the base for raising the lever above thearm and elevating the arm above the base.

11. In an implement of the type indicated, a base, a channel-shaped armpivoted at its rearward end to said base and provided with a throat atits forward end, a driver-blade slidable in said throat in the arm,means for limiting the extent of sliding movement of said driver-bladeto Prevent its removal from the throat, a lever of invertedchannel-shape pivoted to the base at its rearward end with its sidesenclosing the arm, a latch slidable on the lever for engaging thedriver-blade to connect the lever thereto and thereby to the arm, saidlatch formed with an opening, a spring within the sides of the leveroperative to maintain the lever raised above the arm and the armelevated above the base, said spring formed with a tongue having adetent protuberance at its end engageable in the opening in the latch tomaintain the latter in engagement with the driver-blade.

12. In an implement of the type indicated, a hollow arm forming amagazine for staples, said arm having portions folded inwardly at itsend and provided with a throat at the rear thereof, a driver-bladeslidable in said throat, a plate fastened tothe blade on its forwardside and overlying the inwardly-folded portions of the arm for slidablymounting said blade, and a lever pivoted to the arm and connected toreciprocate the driver-blade in the throat.

13. In an implement of the type indicated, a hollow arm having a bottomand sides with portions of the sides extending inwardly at rightanglesat its forward end, a shear-plate in the arm spaced rearwardly from theinwardly-extending portions of its sides to provide a throat throughwhich staples may be driven, detentlugs at the upper end of said throat,a driverblade slidable in the throat and formed with detent-shoulders atits lower end engageable with the detent-lugs in the throat to preventthe driver-blade from sliding upwardly out of the throat, a platesecured against the forward face of the driver-blade adjacent its lowerend and formed with ears projecting rearwardly to adapt them to engagethe lugs at the upper end of the throat to prevent said blade'fromsliding down through the throat, a lever pivoted to the arm, and meansfor latching said lever to the driverblade for reciprocating it thereby.

14. A staple-applying device comprising a hollow open-sided magazine forcontaining a, supply of staples, an arm constructed as a cover forclosing the open side of the magazine and adapted =for movementrelatively thereto, said magazine having a throat through which thestaples may be driven, a driver inserted into the throat through an endthereof for reciprocation longitudinally therein, detent-means forlimiting the reciprocatory movement of the driver in the throat in themagazine to prevent its release therefrom after being assembledtherewith, and manually-operable means for connecting the lever with thedriver for reciprocating the latter, said connecting means beingreleasable to permit the lever to be moved away from the magazine toopen its side while the driver is retained within the throat in themagazine.

ARTHUR H. MAYNARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,251,917 ,Crosby Aug. 12, 19412,264,322 Maynard Dec. 2, 1941 2,309,763 Goodstein Feb. 2, 1943

